Possible upgrades

[:(Rhodri:)]

Hey all, need some help with regards to upgrading my current rig a bit for my 3rd year of uni. (I do computer animation, so looking at speeding up render time as well as gaming performance).

My current rig is as follows:

Q6600 @ 3ghz, with thermalright fan.
4gb OCZ gold ed. RAM
Primary harddrive = 2x 120gb WD 7200 Raid 0
BFG 680i Mobo
BFG 8800GTX OC
Corsair 650W modular.
logitech g5 mouse (could do with replacing as roll wheel's dying)

Obviously being a student, I'm rather low on funds, so looking at doing things cheaply (but willing to pay a bit extra if large jump in performance).

Sooo what I've been toying with is keeping mobo etc. and getting a Q9550 as they seem to be resonably priced - but will I see much difference form a Q6600?

Also would a SSD help wth render/bootup times over RAID 0?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated with an e-cookie

 

[:(Rhodri:)]

wow thanks for the fast replys guys. I was expecting the q9550 to be a much larger jump so no point going there. As you said an i7 would be awesome just can't afford to rip out mobo etc. at the moment so may well wait a gen or two on cpu's.

That ATI card is very tempting mind. My 8800GTX has done me proud (never had a card last me so well!) but is starting to show his age a bit now...